Menu

Queso Diego February Meeting Announcement

The February Queso Diego meeting will focus on Mediterranean Cheeses, presented by Chris Banker. We will explore the wide variety of unique cheeses that are traditionally made in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, with a focus on many of the lesser-known cheesemaking areas. Many of these cheeses are very conducive to being made at home, and we will have a lot of information about how to make them yourself.

This meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Tuesday February 16th at AleSmith Brewery – 9990 AleSmith Ct, San Diego (http://www.alesmith.com).

VENUE NOTES: Please note that this is a new venue for us and some of the logistics are different than past meetings. We will need to bring our own chairs, so please bring a folding chair. If you have a folding table you are able to bring, please also consider bringing it. AleSmith has a great selection of their beers available and due to license restrictions, AleSmith cannot allow outside alcohol to be brought in. Please refrain from bringing outside beer, wine, and homebrew to the event. Cheese and food are still fine, so please consider bringing something to share. See additional notes below.

The Queso Diego Board of Officers has been hard at work securing a new location for our 2016 meetings. Our new VP, Earl Itrich, has been working with AleSmith Brewery and has succeeded in obtaining our space with them for our meeting this month!

More from Earl:
As many of our members are aware our previous meeting host, Bill Tall of City Farmers Market, is having health difficulties which necessitates relocating our meeting place. Our best thoughts and wishes are for his speedy recovery.

It is not particularly easy to find a replacement venue to host our gathering, with its requirements for a larger group, for food sharing and slide show presentations. Peter Zien of AleSmith Brewing stepped forward offering space in his facility for us to continue meeting. Perhaps unknown to many is that the third phase of construction at the location scheduled for this summer is to include offices, a Museum to Tony Gwynn, and CheeseSmith, a cheese creamery and retail store. Peter has training and several years’ experience in cheese making, and is bringing that passion to commercial fruition.

So, during our meetings we will have access to world award-winning brews, and ultimately to varieties of cheeses we may not find anywhere else! Not to mention the opportunity to have Peter and his crew talk to us about various aspects of cheese making and perhaps to conduct tours. How cool is that?

So, starting with our next meeting on February 16th, we will meet at AleSmith (the new location).

Here is some information you will need:

The new AleSmith location is at 9990 AleSmith Court. This is accessed from Miramar Road—AleSmith Court used to be called Empire St., and is the first traffic light east of the Pyramid. It is a T intersection, so you can only turn north, travel a half block, and end up driving directly into AleSmith’s parking lot. It’s really big—you can’t miss it!

Entrances: There is a big patio with access to the Tasting Room, an office door near the front corner of the building into the merchandise store, and there will be an open door on the south side of the building near the store with a Queso Diego sign posted. You can use any of the entrances, but may find it more convenient to use our side entrance and make your way to the tasting room from inside the building.

Seating: none at this time. Unless we want to sit on concrete or stand, we all need to bring our own folding chairs, campstools, beach chairs, etc. The Board is trying to provide enough tables for food, but feel free to bring one if you have it.

Restrooms: there are two sets of restrooms available for us; one in the merchandise store, and another by the north end of the patio.

Alcohol: Sorry—the state agency (ABC) has determined that AleSmith’s liquor license doesn’t allow (making it illegal) to bring in any form of alcoholic beverage and drink it on premises. If that happens and it is caught, then AleSmith can have their license suspended or revoked, putting them out of business. This prohibition means we cannot jeopardize Peter’s business by sneaking in wine, homebrew, etc. If some of us can’t find anything at the tasting room bar to quench our thirst, then in the future it would be legal for AleSmith to order commercial wine from a distributor, and sell it at a cash bar. Don’t blame AleSmith—it’s the government protecting us from ourselves again. ‘Nuff said.

Through AleSmith, we will be able to continue making presentations with a projector, to be broadcast on a large white wall. It should be easier to be seen by more people.

Due to liability issues, we have been asked that no one wander around the brewhouse at will. The only way to check out the impressive beer production facility is by appointment and with an AleSmith employee. Thanks for understanding.

All in all, this move looks to be a win-win for the club and eventually for AleSmith. So, come and enjoy the first meeting in our new location February 16th!